Coach attributes success to God

Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore watches his team from the sideline during a football game against Northern Arizona in Boone, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Jason E. Miczek)

After a few losing seasons as the head football coach at Texas Tech in the 1980s, he was fired. Moore decided to pray about accepting his next job.

"When I was offered the Tech coaching job, I didn't stop to pray about it," Moore said. "I was so excited about the job I didn't even think about praying. I was only thinking about me."

Moore, who said he spends time in prayer before making a big decision, with the exception of taking the job at Tech, has the most wins in Southern Conference history. He is in his 20th season at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C.

Moore said his faith was strong before his experience at Tech, and he has always been a fan of seeking guidance from God. He can remember many late nights spent at the Jones AT&T Stadium after everyone had gone home.

"I would walk out onto the 50-yard line and have a quiet, meditation time," Moore said. "Or maybe I would sit on the home-side benches and just open my ears up and listen for guidance."

Growing up in Bonham, Moore said he was a good kid who understood the difference between right and wrong, but something was missing.

"I did all the things I was asked to do, yet I was as lost as a young boy could be," he said.

One of the most influential moments in his faith occurred while he was a sponsor at a summer camp in his early 20s, he said. His suite mate was a Baptist minister who would spend time each day in prayer - something that Moore had not considered.

"I was taught a lot about prayer at the camp," he said. "When I left I was spiritually stronger. I got home and started to pray for the Lord to come into my life, and I knew my salvation was secured because my heart was completely in the Lord. It wasn't an emotional thing, but rather something I was sure of."

Having someone to pray with, Moore said, helps him stay focused.

"Men need men like women need women," he said. "One of the biggest changes I went through in my faith was sharing my thoughts with my friends. This keeps my life stable."

Chris Moore, Jerry's son and the running backs' coach for Appalachian State, said the coaching staff holds a Bible study each Wednesday night, which most attend.

"We usually build a fire and just sit around it and talk," Chris said. "It's a good time for us to not focus on football, but focus on our faith."

Chris said his father leads by example.

"My wife thinks he is an angel," he said. "He is exactly what the Book says he should be."

Blake Elder, a sophomore wide receiver at Appalachian State, said he leads a player Bible study on Wednesday nights, separate from the coaches' Bible study. About half of the team's players usually attend.

"The Bible studies build unity within our team," Elder said. "We learn about what drives each player, find out things about their families and have a good support group because we are all going through the same things."

Elder said he has been influenced by Jerry Moore in many ways, but most noticeable is how his coach practices what he teaches.

"Coach lives his life without holding anything back," Elder said. "Each year I can see the passion in his eyes, which tells how important (football) is to him."

Jerry Moore said the biggest lesson he learned while coaching at Tech was patience, and he has never felt any bitterness toward the university.

"Everyone goes through tough times," he said. "I think if you don't learn while going through those tough times, then you have lost time."